25th Anniversary

of the Canadian Heraldic Authority

Governor General Jeanne Sauvé receiving the Royal Letters Patent from His Royal Highness the Prince Edward at Rideau Hall on June 4, 1988

This year, the Canadian Heraldic Authority celebrates 25 years of creating this country’s armorial bearings.

On June 4, 1988, then Governor General Jeanne Sauvé authorized the creation of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. This was made possible by new Letters Patent, signed by Her Majesty The Queen on the advice of Her Canadian Privy Council, which authorized and empowered "the Governor General of Canada to exercise or provide for the exercise of all powers and authorities lawfully belonging to Us as Queen of Canada in respect of the granting of armorial bearings in Canada".

With these brief historic notes, Canada became the first Commonwealth country to patriate the practice of this ancient authority.